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Certainly one of the questions that came up when I thought about buying a motorhome or camper van is the issue of energy. Today, we all have cell phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets. And if there’s one thing that’s fundamental to keeping all of this running, it’s electricity.
Below we’ll break down all the options you have for getting that much-needed power today when you’re traveling in a motorhome or camper van.
How do you generate power for your mobile home or camper van?
The most reasonable thing is that your car has two batteries. One is the one that all cars have, i.e. the service battery that allows us to start the car and that keeps the lights, electrical system and others working. But they also usually have a second (up to a third) auxiliary battery for the passenger compartment, which provides 12V power for the interior lights, USB connections, the faucet … Be careful, this battery does not allow the operation of 220V sockets, which can only be powered by connecting the car to a network Electricity at the camping site or service area using a connecting cable, using a 12V to 220V power inverter or via a gasoline generator.
The second and third batteries can be charged using solar panels that are mounted on the roof of the motorhome or camper van, which is a very convenient and environmental way to get electricity while traveling.
There are many options on the market, and depending on your budget and the size of the vehicle, you can opt for more complete kits, but all of them will work to keep the accessory batteries running.
Power plants: ingenuity and clean energy
Another way to get electricity that is becoming more and more popular is to use power plants, as they give you the mobility and versatility to use in and out of the car.
For example, the Ecoflow brand offers several interesting alternatives, among which we can highlight the Delta 2 model, which has a capacity of 1 kWh (expandable up to 3 kWh). This power station allows you to be completely independent of the electrical grid while traveling, so that you can forget about camping sites and more.
Since we know you want specific data, here are some of them: 1 kWh power station allows you to charge your laptop 16 times; You can charge the smartphone 89 times; portable car cooler between 16 and 32 hours; digital camera about 60 times; And the fan is about 40 watts, a total of 16 hours.
You can also opt for a cheaper model like the River Pro, which offers 720Wh and can be expanded with an additional battery of the same capacity. The investment is worth it if your idea is to spend several days traveling. In addition, any of these power plants will provide you with one hundred percent of its capacity for about 10 years.
To get energy from the sun, we need a solar panel, which is easily connected to the power plant. There are many models on the market at various prices. The best option depends on the capacity of our power plant. That is, if you choose an average model, then it is better to purchase, for example, a 160-watt panel.
If your budget allows, you can choose boards with a larger capacity. Charging the power station will take less time and despite its high price, it is high quality products that guarantee optimum performance. Depending on the total charge of the power plant, it will take more or less time to charge. But, to give you an idea, it usually takes about 8 or 10 hours to fully charge it in the case of 160W panels, and 3 to 8 hours on 400W. You also have other options of 110W and 220W that you can choose depending on your needs and budget.
If your idea of living and working in your car while traveling, these power plants will be your best companions and you will never run out of power when you need it. In addition, you can always charge it while the car is in motion, as you can also plug it into a 12V cigarette lighter socket, for example on cloudy days when charging through solar panels is impossible or extremely slow.
Of course, all of this also applies to your home, in case you need power when the power goes out and simply want to produce and consume clean energy from the sun.
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